Celebrate the holiday at Great American Weekend

Always held around the Fourth of July, it's considered one the best destinations for traditional family fun — it's Goshen's Great American Weekend.

Held in the center of Goshen, this delightful festival has it all. Beginning at 8 a.m., Saturday, the festival kicks-off with the ever-popular 5k/10k road race. After that, there will be 150 craft booths for shopping, hayrides through the village, tours of the First Presbyterian church to see the Tiffany windows (the church bell tolls 15 minutes before every tour), all while "grazing your way through a culinary snackopedia" of great eats. There are antiques for sale, pony rides for kids and a Strawberry Festival at the Goshen United Methodist Church.

As if that's not enough, on Saturday, there's "Tango Under the Tent," a Patriotic Hat Contest, and for kids, there's the Dr. Planet show and later the Wk Wilcox Magic Show. On Sunday, join in with the Pete Seegar Tribute and sing-along, watch an Orange County Sheriff K-9 demonstration, and listen to local musicians performing throughout the day.

But the truly thrilling part begins each day at 1 p.m. sharp — Grand Circuit Harness Racing at the Goshen Historic Track. Now in its 176th season, it is the world's oldest active harness racing track and has seen some of the most prestigious standardbreds to have ever raced. This includes Messenger, for whom the great oak at the head of the stretch run is named. In 1911, Mrs. Mary Harriman donated the 2,000-seat grandstand, giving the track its unmistakable look and a unique combination of old and new.

Now in its 33rd year, Goshen's Great American Weekend takes months of planning, countless hours of volunteer time and the cooperation of the entire town to organize the festival. All this good planning helps Goshen easily welcome the more than 20,000 vistors per day who come to be part of the fun.